Apparatus for figure reducing



March 21, 1967 w. M. WARD, JR 3,310,052

APPARATUS FOR FIGURE REDUCING Filed July 15, 1963 INVENTOR. W/LL $4M MW482 J91 United States Patent 3,310,052 APPARATUS FUR FIGURE REDUCINGWiiliam M. Ward, Jr., Santa Maria, Calif. (14331 Amar Road, La Puente,Calif. 91744) Filed July 15, 1963, Ser. No. 295,172 1 Claim. (Cl.128293) This invention relates to figure reducing and more especially toan apparatus for accomplishing figure reducing.

The present invention is directed to the type of figure reshaping andparticularly reducing that uses a corsetlike jacket article appliedgenerally to the torso portion of the human body by the use of which thefigure may be reshaped and usually for the purpose of weight reduction.Corset-like devices are presently used and commonly comprise a materialwhich breathes so as to permit the passage of air in either directiontherethrough and also permit evaporation of perspiration. In the use ofthis type of apparatus the figure correction or Weight reduction isusually accomplished by the creation of a substantial amount ofperspiration and the evaporation thereof is usually accomplished throughexercise. If substantial figure correction is desired, considerable timeperiods of such exercise are often required which is frequently unsuitedto many persons desiring this type of corrective treatment.

The present invention achieves its corrective weight reduction byfollowing a substantially different method wherein the normal cooling ofthe body by evaporation of perspiration is inhibited, the temperature ofthe body is raised, rather than reduced and, additionally, only mildexercise is required and for only a relatively short time.

In carrying out the present invention a corset-like jacket for the torsoportion of the human body is used which jacket is formed of astretchable moisture impervious material, such as rubber or a suitablethermo-plastic material, which jacket is fitted tightly on the user soas to exert radial inward pressure on the portions of the body to bereduced. Inasmuch as the suit or jacket not only inhibits air flow tothe body surfaces in question and the evaporation of moisture, but inconsequence of those changes it also causes a significant increase inthe body temperature, at least in the vicinity of the skin. The increasein temperature may be several degree when accompanied by moderateexercise for a period of from 30 to 45 minutes. One aspect of thepresent apparatus is that the subject or patient feels completely restedat the end of the session and is not exhausted as often occurs withprior systems.

It is therefore the primary purpose and objective of this invention toprovide a novel apparatus for figure reducing.

More specific objects and advantages of the invention will appear and bebrought out more fully in the following specification, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawing. In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of the inventionillustrated in use on a user;

FIGURE 2 is a rear elevation view, enlarged, of the jacket;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a side view of the jacket shown in FIG- URES 1 to 3illustrating a manner of use thereof;

3,310,952 Patented Mar. 21, 1967 FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of amodified form of the invention.

Refering more particularly to the drawing the suit or jacket of thisinvention is com-prised of three sheets of stretchable, resilientmaterial designated 10, 11 and 12 respectively, sheet 10 being the frontportion and sheets 11 and 12 the rear portions jointly forming the rearportions of the article. Sheets 10, 11 and 12 are preferably made ofrubber or a suitable plastic, however they may be made of othermaterials having similar characteristics of elasticity andimperviousness to the passage of air or moisture therethrough. Sheets10, 11 and 12 will preferably have a vertical dimension so as to coverthe torso portion of a user and will generally extend from the bustdownward through and include the hip and thigh portions of the body.Sheets 11 and 12 have substantially meeting edge or flap portions 13 and14 which may be joined to complete the article, however it is preferredto use a panel 15 for this purpose.

Sheets 11 and 12 are joined to front sheet 10 by double rows offasteners 16 which are shown as of the well known snap type, howeverhookless fasteners of the type commonly known as zippers may be employedin lieu thereof if desired. Similar fasteners '17 are provided alongpanels 13 and 14 for joining the strip '15 to sheets 11 and 12. It willbe apparent from FIGURES 1 and 2 that the meeting edges of panel 10 withpanels 11 and 12 will not be exactly linear but will be curved so thatthe jacket will conform to the curvature of the normal figure, howeverit will be seen that the flap portions 13 and 14 of sheets 11 and 12will be substantially straight for connection with the rear connectingpanel 15. The purpose and advantage of this construction and arrangementis to permit the expeditious placement of the jacket on the userinasmuch as the fasteners 17 will be the last ones connected.

In the use and operation of the invention the jacket will be applied tothe body of the user by stretching the material to effect the fasteningas mentioned whereby the jacket will fit tightly over the desired bodyportions and,

when completely fitted on the wearer, will exert radial pressure ofabout 1 pound per square inch on the body surfaces and in full contacttherewith in a manner which precludes the passage of air or moisturetherethrough.

FIGURE 4 illustrates a manner of use of the invention and shows the userduring exercise. Such exercise, which may be moderately active for aperiod of from 30 to 45 minutes, will cause a significant increase inthe body temperature, at least in the vicinity of the skin, and inasmuchas accumulated moisture by way of perspiration cannot escape, asubstantial weight reduction during each period of use will result.

FIGURE 5 shows a modified form of the invention comprising a band 20having two or more rows of fasteners 21 similar to fasteners 16 and 17.Band 20 is shown applied to the thigh portion of a leg and has similarcharacteristics as sheets 10, 11 and 12 and is used for application to alocal or limited part of the body, as shown.

The invention has been described in considerable detail in order tocomply with the patent laws by providing a full public disclosure of atleast one of its forms. However, such detailed description is notintended in any way to limit the broad features or principles of theinvention, or the scope of patent monopoly to be granted.

3 4.1 What I claim is: References Cited by the Examiner U O lpriAsiriligure reducin torso ]8.Ckt for the human body com UNITED STATESPATENTS a front panel, a left rear panel, a right rear panel, and ,9871/1950 Chaitin 128379 a rear connecting panel, each being substantiallyrec- 5 2,708,271 5/ 1955 Steinberg. tangular and consisting of a sheetof air and moisture 3,028,857 4/ 1962 Parker. impervious stretchablerubber material; and tw 3,092,110 6/ 1963 Duensing 128293 vertical rowsof snap fastener elements on each vertical side edge of each of saidpanels; the relative Widths FOREIGN PATENTS of said panels being suchthat in the assembled posi- 10 1 241 219 19 0 France tion of the jacketthe rows of fasteners on said front 1,243,867 9/ 1960 France panel arevertically aligned at the sides of the Wearers body, While the fastenersat the sides of said con- RICHARD A GAUDET Primary Examiner nectingpanel are adjacent respective sides of the Wearers spinal column. 15 C.F. ROSENBAUM, Assistant Examiner.

